Brazile breaks earnings record
LAS VEGAS – Trevor Brazile celebrated his all-around title by breaking the PRCA season earning record Friday night at the National Finals Rodeo.
Brazile, from Decatur, Texas, has earned $322,947 this season to break bull rider Matt Austin’s single-year record of $320,766 set in 2005. Brazile’s fifth-place finish in the ninth round of tie-down roping netted him $4,134 Friday night.
“I couldn’t ask for anything more,” said Brazile, who wrapped up the all-around title Thursday night. “It’s been a great year even though the finals hasn’t been what I would have hoped for. Winning my first (NFR) single event title, then wrapping up the all-around and setting a new earnings record makes it worth all the work I put into it. The sacrifices weren’t in vain.”
In bull riding, B.J. Schumacher, of Hillsboro, Wis., clinched both the world and NFR aggregate titles, even though he was bucked off Cavenders in the ninth round. Schumacher leads the world standings with $190,971 compared to $157,716 for defending world champ Austin, who withdrew from competition following an injury.
Schumacher is the only rider to cover seven of his nine bulls. He has an aggregate score of 604 and a huge lead over second-place Bobby Welsh (414 points on five bulls) of Gillette, Wyo. Welsh, the only rider to cover his bull on the day, won the round with an 85 on Multi-Chem Western Hauler.
Cody Ohl of Hico, Texas, broke the tie-down roping single-season earnings record by placing second in 7.4 seconds in the ninth round. Aggregate leader Ohl has earned $242,682 to break the record of $237,638 set by Fred Whitfield of Hockley, Texas, in 2002. Clint Robinson of Spanish Fork, Utah, won the round with a 7.3.
In saddle bronc riding, Chad Ferley of Oelrichs, S.D., and Bradley Harter of Weatherford, Texas, tied for first with scores of 84 on Painted Feathers and Sun Dance.
The win allowed Ferley to take over the world lead from regular-season champ Cody DeMoss of Heflin, La., who was bucked off Touch of Silver on Friday.
In steer wrestling, Luke Branquinho of Los Alamos, Calif., expanded his world lead by placing eighth in 5.0. Branquinho has earned $162,090 compared to $140,518 for aggregate leader Dean Gorsuch of Gering, Neb., who placed 10th in the round.
In bareback riding, Cimmaron Gerke of Brighton, Colo., won the round with an 83.5 on Moulon Rouge. Will Lowe, of Canyon, Texas, who clinched a second consecutive world title, also leads the NFR aggregate standings with 736.5 points.